Erling Haaland breaks Lionel Messi and Ruud van Nistelrooy records with Champions League opener

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The priority for Pep Guardiola and his Manchester City side in tonight’s Champions League clash against Feyenoord is stopping the rot and ending their five-match losing streak.

City kicked off against the Dutch side on the back of their worst losing streak since 2006, a run which included a 4-1 defeat to Sporting Lisbon in their Champions League tie.

With a visit to Premier League leaders Liverpool coming up on Sunday afternoon, City are in desperate need of a confidence-boosting result before they look to cut the Reds’ eight-point gap at the top of the table.

Individual accolades and records are not the aim for Guardiola’s side at the Etihad on Tuesday evening, but Erling Haaland was able to add another landmark goal to his list of achievements before the half-time break.

• READ MORE: Who is Erling Haaland? Step into the world of Man City’s record-crushing goal machine

Haaland breaks two records with first-half goal

City began well against the Dutch side with Haaland and Phil Foden forcing saves from Timon Wellenreuther in the visitor’s goal. But they soon showed signs of vulnerability that have been all-too present in recent weeks as the contest became a more even encounter.

But City were able to make a breakthrough just before the half-time break when Haaland was fouled in the box and awarded a penalty, which he duly dispatched to put Guardiola’s side ahead.

The goal was the Norwegian striker’s 45th Champions League strike, which made the 24-year-old the youngest player to net that many goals in the competition ever, beating the record of a certain Lionel Messi.

The strike also marked Haaland’s 50th goal involvement in the Champions League, with the forward becoming the fastest player to achieve this mark, beating former Manchester United favourite Ruud van Nistelrooy. Haaland needed 44 appearances to register 50 goals and assists, while the Dutchman did it in 45 games.

Stuart Pearce says Haaland has answered his critics again

Speaking on Amazon Prime, former City boss Stuart Pearce talked up the importance of the goal.

“The goal settled the nerves and Haaland will be delighted to get on the scoresheet,” said the former England left-back.

“As he normally does, you write him off before the game and he scores.”

Another goal followed for Haaland seven minutes after the half-time break and City fans will be hoping that this will signal the Norwegian re-finding his golden touch in front of goal ahead of the trip to Anfield.